MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-NorMin) recently delivered agriculture assistance to the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB), Philippine Army as part of the department’s P1.84 million commitment for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) organization in San Luis, Malitbog, Bukidnon.

Funded under the agency’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks), an initial of P579,750 was delivered consisting of 15,000 abaca seedlings, 15 rolls tarp (trapal), 15 sacks of chicken grower feeds, 500 sacks of organic fertilizer, and 110 heads of free-range chicken.

DA NorMin Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the agency's efforts are part of empowering IPs to help them rise out of poverty and in support of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) or EO No. 70 in the fight against local insurgency.

Various IP farmers’ associations in Malitbog town namely Tagmaray Empowered Women’s Association, Tagmaray, Kalipay, San Luis, Mabuhay Tribal Association Inc, Sitio Uyunan Higaonon FA, Sitio Logdeck Higaonon FA, Sitio Victory Higaonon FA; and Bayawa Uyunan Kagahuman Logdeck Impahanong Kalanawan 1 and 2 Cooperative will benefit from the 4Ks program.

The activity was in coordination with the local government of Malitbog, Bukidnon and DA-10’s Provincial Operations Center in Bukidnon. (AGT, DA-10/PIA 10-Bukidnon)